Love Life!

Last month we celebrated Easter, the “rebirth” of a man who died so that we may have life – eternal life. Until we get to Heaven, our earthly life is a God-given gift and one that we should appreciate every day.

The annual Sanctity of Human Life Day took place in January as a time to celebrate new life and “new birth” both spiritual and physical. I want to continue that celebration with you to start the month of April. Did you know that according to the Baby Center, four million babies are born in the United States every year? That’s four million souls who can potentially change this world!

In addition, each year sees tens of thousands of children adopted in America – and I’m proud to say that our son Lucas was one of those adoptions. As any parent, we were so excited about this second addition to our family (Abby was our first, adopted in 2004). My husband Dan and I had the privilege of being there for his Caesarean section and the experience was priceless, as told in my book My Climb:

“The nurse rushed the baby out, all nine pounds of him, and then we followed her into the room where she worked on him to get that first vital gulp of air. About fifteen forever seconds later, he let out a little screech and starting breathing on his own. He hardly fussed afterward, and was even downright docile. He was also perfect. I felt a bit like Moses’ mom in Exodus 2:2 who saw ‘he was a fine child.’ Lucas James was fine indeed.”

Looking back at the last seven years since his birth, it pains me to think about all of the wonderful times we would’ve missed with Lucas had Aschei (Lucas’s birth mom) chosen a different option. She was at a trying time in her life and already had a daughter of her own. She could have decided to end her pregnancy, yet she chose life. It would take a lifetime (and even that wouldn’t be long enough) to express our gratitude to her for the gift she gave us.

Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life found that the total amount of abortions between 1973 and 2013 in the United States total over 56.4 million. That’s 56.4 million potential missionaries, lawyers, doctors, policeman, moms, dads, and maybe even a president or two – lost to this world. It’s profoundly sad when you look at how God views every child from the point of conception:

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.” (Psalm 139:13-16 NIV)

It was God who “breathed” life into the nostrils of Adam (Genesis 2:7). Life was His plan from the very beginning. He made each one of us with a purpose. We also have the ability to breathe life into someone, but we’ve abused that choice as a society and have robbed God of all those wonderful plans he had for those people who were never given the chance to live. As Christians, it is our duty to encourage life and live it to its fullest because that is what the Lord wants us to do and takes joy in! “The Lord be exalted, who delights in the well-being of his servant.” (Psalm 35:27b)

As we enter this season of Spring and new birth, I challenge you to start each day anchored in the expectation of the life God has given you, even if you are in the midst of challenging circumstances or even heartbreak. Trust in the Lord and in His will for you! I also encourage you to pray right now for all of the expectant mom’s who may be considering ending the precious life they’ve been given.

“Jesus loves the little children.
All the children of the world; red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the children of the world!”

14 Comments

#13 30 year Precisely?? Do you feel my pain?? Can you see how emsnrrabsiag it is tohave this person set him or herself up as the town cheerleader? Do you see the mind set? Do you understand how scary it is that he may be just one of so many more clueless residents living in the town?

Over in Kitsapland, I think this qualifies as a failed â€œlifestyle communityâ€ development:KINGSTON â€” Just a few years after its opening in spring 2007, the White Horse Golf Course development located near Kingston is in foreclosure. As of March 23, the amount in default on the note is approximately $5.7 million, according to the notice of trustee’s sale filed with Kitsap County’s Auditors office, March 24â€¦â€¦. – Rate this comment: 0 0

still the US dollars.but during the christmas season or even ever since the peso started gaining on the dollar, it is wiser now to convert to php immediately & just bring pesos there. for it will ensure that you would have exchanged your foreign currency at a higher rate of exchange. & that you will always have pesos on hand.the drawback is that it is more bulky.anyway, hope that helps.

…~Negroes (Renardo Sidney) will be Negroes (Elgin Bailey).tee-hee-heefield-negro, nah you knows dat yallz beliefs in showing yallz colour.field-negro, you knows dat yall do be beliefin-nin in actin-nin a complete MoFo'n fool in public.`12:47 AM—————-I finally have to say something. Every time I see your name, I always stop and read it so I can see what kind of dumb ass "ebonics" comment you wrote.You sound stupid.

It seems that UK students are fixated on a sort of industrial vocabulary to answer ecological issues. The raw and rusted work seeks devotion to machines that act like an anti-virus. As evident – the projects are not urban. It like a notion away from cities.I do agree with comments that identified the Bartlett mania. Though the ideas are original – the representation pays homage to Piranesi. In UK – atleast – the architecture research is consciously moving away from the realms of human space…

Oh Linda – I just adore oysters and I am a fan of foie gras too! I would never say “no” to a glass of champagne – I think you two had the perfect Paris Christmas Eve dinner! What happened to the chocolates????? LOL !